The lighthouse sculpture to honor Lane Thomas and the foundation set up in his name was recently unveiled at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Photo credit Disboards.com
The sculpture rests along the shorelines where the incident took place a little over a year ago.
Select Walt Disney World Resort signature dining restaurants are trying to bring in more Florida residents with a new special offer.
Disney is now offering Florida residents a free appetizer with each adult entree purchased and free valet parking when they enjoy dinner at Jiko at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Flying Fish at the Boardwalk, Citricos at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, or Artist Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. This special offer is only valid August 9th-September 30th, 2017 during dinner.
August 19 marks World Photo Day, and Disney will celebrate the occasion with the return of Disney PhotoPass Day at Walt Disney World Resort! During this event, Disney PhotoPass Service will offer a number of exclusive photo opportunities that will let you take home even more picture-perfect memories of your visit.
In honor of Disney’s “Dream Big, Princess” campaign, you’ll find photo opportunities focused on some Disney Princesses as well.
Check out all of the special opportunities that are planned in each of the four theme parks and Disney Springs on August 19 (Entertainment and photo opportunities are subject to change; some locations could be affected by inclement weather):
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Character Experiences:
Photo opportunities:
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Character Experiences:
Photo opportunities:
Epcot
Character Experiences:
Photo opportunities:
Magic Kingdom Park
Character Experiences:
Photo opportunities:
Disney Springs
Photo opportunities:
Don’t forget to share your photos using #DisneyPhotoPassDay and #DreamBigPrincess, and if you want access to all of your PhotoPass photos from Disney PhotoPass Day, purchase Memory Maker One Day for $59 in the My Disney Experience mobile app during or after your visit.
Annual Passholders can collect complimentary buttons at Epcot during the 2017 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.
Buttons featuring Remy from Ratatouille will be distributed to Annual Passholders at the Festival Center in Future World when guests present their valid pass.
The 2017 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival kicks-off August 31st, 2017.
Hong Kong Disneyland has announced that Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters in Tomorrowland will close on August 31st, 2017 to make way for a MARVEL attraction.
The MARVEL attraction (which will feature Ant-Man) was announced along with a massive expansion of the park. The announcement stated:
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters will be reimagined into a brand new experience for guests to fight alongside the icons of the Marvel Universe.
Buzz Lightyear will be meeting guests at the attraction August 8th-31st and complimentary stickers are being given out to guests. A line of “last call” merchandise has also been released at the park.
No opening date for the new MARVEL attractions in Tomorrowland has been given as of yet.
With The Great Movie Ride closing on Sunday, August 13th, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is adjusting some operating hours for attractions and dining inside of the park this weekend, August 12th and 13th.
If you are visiting this weekend, expect huge crowds at Hollywood Studios and lengthy lines for The Great Movie Ride.
Opening this Fall, what remains of New York Street at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will become Grand Avenue, a representation of modern day Los Angeles. Situated in the former home of the Writer’s Stop will be the Baseline Tap House, a new bar and lounge just steps away from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This week, the facade of the Tap House was revealed and lampposts are going up on the new street:
The former Writer’s Stop now has a brick facade.
Lamps have been installed all around the area, likely meaning it is not far from opening.
The new area as seen from Star Tours.
Gary Sinise will not be returning as CAPCOM in the relaunched Mission: SPACE attraction at Epcot when it returns August 13th, a role he has had in the ride since it opened in 2003. American actress Gina Torres will replace Sinise in completely new attraction pre-show videos.
Gary Sinise essentially playing his role from the film Mission to Mars in the spiritual sequel, Mission: SPACE at Epcot.
Gina Torres has appeared in many television series, including Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (as Nebula), Xena: Warrior Princess (as Cleopatra), the short-lived Cleopatra 2525, Alias (as Anna Espinosa), Firefly (as Zoe Washburne), Angel (as Jasmine), 24 (as Julia Miliken), Suits (as Jessica Pearson), The Shield (as Sadie Kavanaugh), and Westworld (as Lauren). She starred opposite Chris Rock in the feature film I Think I Love My Wife, as Carla in the independent film South of Pico, and she reprised her Firefly role in its feature film sequel Serenity. Since 2011, she has had a main role on the USA Network series Suits as Jessica Pearson. She and real-life husband Laurence Fishburne played a married couple on the NBC television series Hannibal.
Actress Gina Torres
You can always relive the classic pre-show experience and attraction through our video below:
The re-launched Mission: SPACE opens this Sunday at Epcot.
As promised, DisneyStore.com today is selling the limited release t-shirts celebrating the closing of the Universe of Energy and The Great Movie Ride. You can click here or any image below to buy these items. The shirts are available until August 17th online.
The Great Movie Ride Farewell Tee for Adults
The Great Movie Ride Farewell Tee for Adults – Annual Passholders
The Great Movie Ride Farewell Tee for Kids
The Universe of Energy Farewell Tee for Adults
The Universe of Energy Farewell Tee for Adults – Annual Passholders
The Universe of Energy Farewell Tee for Kids
Additional items such as Tervis tumblers, ornaments, and baseball caps are available only at Walt Disney World. Both attractions close forever on Sunday, August 13th, 2017.
Expanding for a longer-than-ever 75-day run, the 22nd Epcot International Food & Wine Festivalreturns to Walt Disney World Resort from August 31 to November 13, 2017. The Disney Parks Merchandise team has developed more than 75 items celebrating the many ways guests can sip and taste their way throughout Epcot.
“Each year we look forward to designing artwork for [Epcot International Food & Wine Festival],” explained Creative Manager Doug Strayer. “The art includes nods to Epcot’s 35th Anniversary on October 1, and beloved characters like Figment and Remy. As cast members, we love this event as much as our guests. It’s fun for us to see guests at Epcot wearing the artwork we created.”
Disney Creative Group artists Richard Terpstra, Susan Foy, Dave Holbrook, and Brian Blackmore contributed to this year’s assortment. Their artwork was compiled into a style guide which merchandise product developers referenced when creating apparel, pins, home décor, accessories and more.
Fans of Figment will be delighted to find several new items featuring the lovable purple dragon. Doug said the 1980s-looking Figment artwork was inspired by a classic Epcot attraction.
“During the design phase, we kept referencing the Kitchen Kabaret attraction once located in The Land Pavilion. That food-themed show included the song ‘Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit,’ which we couldn’t get out of our heads [laughs]. We liked the show’s art style, so we combined it with a stylized Chef Figment. It’s a fun way to salute the heritage of Epcot.”
Another nod to Epcot’s heritage is found within the Passport collection. Look carefully to see stamps containing World Showcase marketing artwork from 1982.
The Brews Around the World collection returns this year with new designs by Susan Foy. Look for the artwork on apparel and drinkware, including a new stainless steel growler and baseball cap with a bottle opener.
For the first time, Disney is introducing an “Eat to the Beat” concert T-shirt with a World Showcase-inspired guitar graphic.
Dooney & Bourke handbags with Figment and World Showcase graphics will also be released during the event. Annual Passholders will also find a specially designed Dooney & Bourke handbag along with several other Passholder Exclusive products such as pins, salt and pepper shakers, and accessories.
Finally, guests can help Remy as he ventures around Epcot to collect the ingredients for his signature dish with Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt. This year, guests will have 15 spots to look for Remy in World Showcase and Future World.
Look for these items at the Festival Center located adjacent to Mission: SPACE, and at select merchandise locations throughout Epcot. Select items will also be offered on Shop Disney Parks app and the online store.
